Trim tool



Aug. 31, 1943. A w. LAING A2,328,153

TRIM TOOL' Filed Sept. 29, 1942 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 31, 1943. A, w, LMNG 2,328,153

TRIM 'rooL Filed Sept. 29, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III H Il 420 33 zij 3/20 l retreated Aeg. 31, 1943 in Fig. 1;

frame and showing e used in Figs. 8 and 9,

mould trim is used, l

4 invention relates generally to tools `for use by"carpenters `or cabinetmakers; and particularlyf to tools `ifor use in erecting the trim andaccurately fdeterxnine` theiangle and location of cutvofdoor and window..framing without `resort tothe practice heretofore `of making accurate measurements. The inventionalso contemplates a toolby the use of which a reveal `of predetermined depth may be indicated and laidout in the door trarne without the necessityof accurately measuring such reveal'as has` heretofore been the practice.` Similarly," the deviceofmy invention `embodies means `whereby the proper angleofcut ofthe end of"a stair tread may beimmediately` determined without resort to measurement, and which insures" a snug nt. of

skirt board regardless of the angle.

-A'Ihe invention willv be` best understood with reference to the drawings, whereini e Fig. 1 is *aside elevation of a trim tool constructed in accordance 'with the invention,

Figi 2 is an lend elevation of the tool, frigos' 'FigiV 4 is a perspective view -of the improved g. 5 isa diagrammatic view,` in perspective, illustrating the use of the tool thetreadof stair steps,V e e Fig; 6 is a plan view illustrating-the-manner in which the a tool `ls `used rirrniarking of: the langle of cut on a stair tread,

Fig. 7 is a front elevation the `course of `construction'andillustrating the various positions in whichl the tool is used in determining the proper reveal,` e

Fig.` 8 is an elevation showingfthe tool in posi-` tion to mark the side lcasing `where cabinet type trimisused,.. f

the tread with the is a top planerview of mtheiool vas shown inL connection with 12,328,153' j 1 a a a A'ramgroot; f t slexfmef'w-,bestwil-wmf r t Application september 29, 19,42', serial Ne. saires` *i 14 claims; tensa-:ssii

Flag.. 911s a detailed perspective view further I showing the tool as applied inFig. 8,

Fig. 10 is agsectional view `through the door a an edge view of the tool as Fig. 11 is a front elevation showing the tool in position to markthe side casing when plaster Fig; 12 is a perspective view showing thetool inthesameposit'ion,l i` .y

Fig. 13` is a transverse :sectlonalview through the door frame andshowing an edge view of the tool as it will appear when used as in Figs.` 11i4 and12,1 t .i

Fig. 1411s a'front elevation'showingztwo posi-V tions: for marking the length oftheheadca'singV Where a' forty-five' degree angle of cut isdesired,"

` Fig. v15 shows the tool in two positions to mark` the` length of the side casingwhere mitered corners are desired, and

Fig. 16 is e view similar to view 14 and showing l the? two` positions of the "tool ifor lmarking oit' the vertical stiles for mitered joints? `It is usually the practice in the erection oi curately so that a proper fit and snug` j'oint will be assured where such casing members meet, andshould such""measurements vary from accurate,

dimcultles are experienced." In providing the rei Lveal forhdoor frames accurate" measurement also ing ashasheretoforebeen the practice, and the doorl" ,frames tomeasure the side and head casings ac-" proper use of` 'the trim'tool-Jwillenable the door frames to beaccurately "laid out in a minimum of time and with' assurance of proper matching and ilt. i This also applies to the reveal, as the use oft thedoor. N

the tool insures a uniform reveal entirely around Inlerectihg stair stepsiit frequently occurs `that thefangle between the apron and riser andtread and riser variesv from the` usual 90 angle,\in'` which event it becomes necessary-.to make faccurate and minute measurements so that the timbers ma'ybejcut' in such manner asvto'insure a.' snug'and proper'ilt. 'I'he tool` ofthe presentin-f vention is soconstructed as tolay oi such varyi- :1 ing angles with ease and withthe `assurance oi' a Proper joint betweenl the elementswhen the tim-f bers arel cut in`accord'ance with the angle mea'surement laid outbythe tool; f i

Referring now to the drawings; and-particu# t ,"Llarly to Figs; i1 to `4 inclusive, thev toolinciudes a `base including a` blade 20 having `itsylower` edge-g 2| straight` `for rulingfand` marking purposes. a

This blade `maybe of-a` length bestsuitedito the uses for which `the t'ool'is designed, `andisthln and flat throughoutits length.` AAn 'arm 22 integral' with the'blade at one end ofthe latter pro-- jects at` right angles thereto andis disposed in i the sameplane` withA the flatsides of the-blade. r Thisafrm22 has `straightlongitudinaliedgcs forw iruling` purposes. f A ,second 1 arm- 23 projects ini` l;

the same general plane as the blade 20 from the opposite end thereof and is disposed at a 45 angle to the saidhlade. Both longitudinal edges of the arm 23 are straight and may bey used for ruling purposes.

The upper edge of the base member 20 is provided with a butt plate 24, which plate is rigidly secured to the upper edge of the said blade :and projects laterally from both sides of the latter at right angles thereto. `The ends oi the butt plate 24 are vwidenedgas'shown.and straddle the arms 22-23. It will be noted that the ends of the butt plate terminate inwardly from the outer;k

edges of the arms 22-23 an equal distaiice,4 which distance is the equivalent of the reveal re@ ferred to above and which will be more fully .dis-f,

cussed hereinafter.

tothe distancebetweenthe ends ofthe butt plate 24V and the-.adjacent edges of the arms Pivotally mounted upon the blade 2li andl on...v

that sideopposite to-the stops .2,4 isan ladjustable arm 26. This arm is formed of thin flatI metal.

and its longitudinal' edges are straight .for `ruling purposes. -vThe adjustable. armv receives ,a/fbolt 21 at oneend, upon which is mounted ya wing.

n ut or adjusting screw 28, theA constructionenabling thearrn tobe`v swung upon the pivotV 21 to various angles withrelation tol theblade 23' and held in such positions by tightening -thernut. v

The butt' plate `24 is cut/away -orY recessed as at 29 near one end and in close proxirnityfto-the arm'22 to permit of the adjustablearm 2S Abeing swung intoY parallelism with..they said arrnv 22.

Theadjustable arm 26 is used only in determin' ing or measuring angles, which may. vary, and

40 upony thelbase 20..,so as rto lie wholly ,within the edges of the'jlatter,l as showngin full lines-inFig 1,

when not in use for such purposes is swung back and: is held insuch position bylftightening of the nut 28 at one end of the arm andby a spring clip 3U secured to the-bas'eand releasably engaged with vthe said adjustable arm' l26.

In the use of; the tool for determining the i angle of cut oa tread memberof a stair .case

where;` the angle 'between the -tread .-.andi'the apronuis greater or less thana right'anglevrefa erence is made to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings...

One side of the base member or blade has secured thereon at spacedE distances stops 25, which stops are spacedfrorn k v the lower edge 2l of the blade 20 a distance equa instance this distance vmay be stated as ,-e inch. y

fof' cut of the side casing 33. y In Fig. 14 the tool is shown diagrammatically in two positions for marking the length of the head casingaS'l, allowingA for reveal and when cabinet trim is desired. Th'e casing 3l is placed 'I ushf with the bottom of the underlying header To'deterrninejthe angle of cut of .the-.tread lend, theuadjustablearm. 26 vis swung upon-fits pivot into .substantial parallelism" with the arm 22,

whereuponthestraight edge -2l .of thefblade V2li, is applied tot'hevstep `riser '3l as-shown in .Elig.y 5.`

The adjustable; blade 26 is then moved; upon its pivot until-r it lies rflushand flatly abuts--ther apron 32, "whereupon 'the nut '28 is... tightened.,l The angle is thus properlyk obtained, and vmayy be markedfoi'u'ponthe riserv 33 by. applying the tool as shownfin Fig. 6. With the butt-plate" 24 engaged with the straightY longitudinal edge A ofthe riser, the angle indicated by the position of the 'arm' 25 is marked. If a Varying angleis 1 present at the opposite end of the riser, the same procedure is followedexcept that'the toolis' reversed,` as will be readily understood. 1

As has been before stated, the stops 2s are-.,- spaced from the edge2| of the blade2i) a disv tance equal to the spacingof the ends of the but-t plate24 inwardly from .the outer edges of the" arms 22-23. yThis distance is the equivalent of l1i thereveal itlis desiredthe door frame shall have,' and forthe purpose. of illustrationin the present: i

and al temporary nail 38 at or near the center of the casing holds the latter in place. By applying the tool .to the under or lower' head casing 3T with the butt-'plate '2'4"as` ahead, -kand'with the end of the 'said butt 'plate 'engaged withthjarnb 39, the-outer straight edge or"y the arn'if23 will' determine the line l allowing for reveal;` i

By referring to Fig'. l5, it will'be observedthat the toolis's'hown diagrammatically in two positions for measuring and lrnarking'the vside casi ings. With the butt plate A24 engaged'witlri'thev innerfaceof ,the side casing3'4, and-with'the' end of the butt plate engaged with the `r header 35, the cuterjstraight 4edge of thearrn' 23 will determine the location of cut for the proper lengthl of the saidcarsing where mitered corners are 'desired' and allowing for'reveal.

Fig. 16 shows diagrammaticauy'the apprie'atimiY ofthe trim tooifor determining the angie of4 @un of the upper edges of the face`plate's4il for the frame.

vFrom theigoregoing it .isapparent that' tool may be quickly rand easily used'atthe varif ous places upon the frame toy determine accurately where cuts should befrnadefto permit fof proper kjoining Vof they various members const ituting the vframe and insuring'aproper reveal entirely around the frame. VThe tool maybe made-of light inexpensive metalv and. comprises but few easily formed and readily assenibled.

parts. The t0ol-may be carried very conveniently in the ordinary carpenters or cabinetr makers tool kit, and willfprove thoroughlyl reliable and eicientin accomplishing the'results'y for which it is designed. vIt will=be`l understood that theV ends of the butt plate 2li rvand the locanon of the stops 25 will hejierrmned bythe 'depth of reveal required for theworl; ath'and. j`

What is claimed is:` ,1. In` a trim tool, a

planewith' the latter and disposed at an` angle to said blade', said arm havingvainarking edge., vand a stop on said blade projectinglaterally therefrom. vand out oftheplane of said blade and located at a predetermined,distanceiinwardly of the blade from saidfrnarking edge.

2. In a trim. tool, a base'cornprising plane with said bladegand `disposed at angles to said blade, stops projectingflaterally -frorn 4said blade and disposed equal distances inwardly froml the straight edges of said armsyand additionalY stops on one side of said bladedisposedesimilar i of outv for "cabinet trim" v base comprising a bladiii,` an arm integralwith said bladeinthe saine" l l m ai blader.. straight edge arms integral with andin the same distances inwardly ,from thev straight edge the blade. f n

`3. In `atrim tool,4 a base comprising a blade having a straight marking edge, stops projecting to the distances between the rst mentionedstops l and the straight edge ofsaid blade.`

having a straight marking edge, a butt plate secured to th'e opposite edge of said `blade and projecting laterally from said blade and at right k angles thereto,\arms at the ends of said blade in the `same lplane with the lattergand disposed at angles tothe said straight edge, the said butt plate having .its ends terminating equal distances inwardly ,from the outer edges ofA said `4.9In a trim tool, `a base comprising a blade l5 arms, and stops on said blade disposed inwardly',

from the straightedge `thereof a distance equal* to'the distance between said butt ends and the adjacent edges of saidarms.

AAmiXANDER w. LAING. l 

